UN officials have criticized the international community’s failure to end the ongoing genocide and famine perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. They pointed out that several countries continue to support Israel with weapons, funding, and political backing, which may implicate them in the genocide.
According to the United Nations Media Center, the officials highlighted that due to Israel’s non-compliance with its humanitarian obligations as the occupying power, it is also restricting humanitarian aid. Israel deliberately targets humanitarian aid convoys and aims at aid workers and civilians seeking help.
The UN experts have called on Israel to provide a safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla, scheduled to depart from Turkey to Gaza, in accordance with Israel’s international obligations and recent rulings by the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.
After more than 200 days of the Israeli blockade and genocidal violence, including an unprecedented campaign of starvation against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the situation continues to deteriorate. Following 17 years of siege, Israel has now created a famine by cutting off regular supplies of water, food, and essential goods to Gaza, destroying livelihoods, food systems, and civilian infrastructure.
Experts and officials noted that the flotilla, comprising a diverse coalition of human rights activists including lawyers, doctors, nurses, journalists, parliamentarians, and politicians, aims to deliver life-saving aid directly to the besieged residents of Gaza. This is a legitimate challenge to Israel’s control over the entry of humanitarian aid. They emphasized that the siege of civilian populations is illegal.
The officials stated that the flotilla represents a tangible expression of international support for the ongoing Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination, and the internationally recognized right to receive humanitarian aid without interference or obstruction. They stressed that supporting the human rights of the Palestinian people is crucial under the current conditions marked by genocide, residential extermination, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The officials also mentioned that the world is witnessing an intentional famine amid widespread destruction of homes and hospitals, while diseases spread rapidly as millions have been forced to leave their homes, targeted, mutilated, or wounded, and are now unable to receive treatment in extremely unsanitary conditions, living in overcrowded temporary shelters.
Participants in the Freedom Flotilla represent the will of the global movement, particularly the youth worldwide, to end the atrocities in Gaza for the benefit of both Palestinians and Israelis. They expressed concerns for the safety of the participants in light of repeated Israeli attacks against UN missions and civilian humanitarian missions.
